The Benefits Of Low Viscosity Oil For Semi Trucks

Once upon a time, the standard attitude in the trucking world was that the heavier the oil the better its performance, especially when it comes to wear protection. Yet new research--and new developments from oil manufacturers--are doing much to change this way of thinking. If you would like to learn more about what you could stand to gain by switching to a lower viscosity oil, read on.

Fuel Savings

The principal benefit of a low viscosity oil is that it will allow you get better fuel economy out of your truck. As diesel prices continue to rise, such savings are more important than ever. That’s because the increased fluidity of such oil makes it easier for the fuel pump to circulate it through your engine. Thicker oils take more energy to pump--energy that is provided by the combustion of a greater amount of fuel.

Studies have shown that the fuel performance of a 15W-40 oil was almost 0.8% worse than a lower viscosity 15W-30 oil. Energy savings improved even more when considering a 10W-30 oil. The holds true for 5W-30 oils, but in that case the increased costs associated with the synthetic bases used in producing the oil off-set the gains in terms of fuel savings.

Increasing Adoption

Low viscosity oils are steadily gaining popularity, both among oil manufacturers and among truck operators. With increased exposure, the perception that these oils will not provide enough protection against wear is slowly diminishing. This is further helped by the fact that the semi engines being produced today have much better tolerances and precision than those of decades past. As a result, Chevron, Shell, and even Mack are now producing full lines of low viscosity oils.

For more information about servicing or selecting a trailer your semi truck, please don’t hesitate to contact the pros at Country Supply.